Archbishop of Lagos Most Rev (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins (3rd from right) with the newly ordained Revs shortly of the ordination at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikorodu, Lagos
It was indeed a gathering of saints, the convergence of the clergy and the laity when the Archbishop of the Lagos Metropolitan See, His Grace the Most Rev (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins conducted the ordination of four catholic priests and one Deacon in Lagos recently. The event which held at the St Patrick’s Catholic Church Owode Ibeshe in the Ikorodu area of Lagos marked a milestone in the history of the Church considering the importance of injecting additional principal officers to the church courtesy of ordination of priests and Deacons. Those ordained priests and Deacon are of the congregation of the Society of Divine Vocation (SDV) which was founded by St Justin Maria Russolillo. Very Rev.Fr Ciro Sarnataro SDV is the current Superior General of the Society of Divine Vocations while Very Rev Fr Jeffery Nwoke is the Provincial Superior of the Nigeria Quasi Province.
Those ordained Reverend Fathers at the auspicious occasion are Rev FRs Nicholas Omumuawuike Nwachi SDV, Ernest Galadima Ephraim SDV, Fabian Chigozie Mbanu SDV and Thomas Unimke Ogah. Brother Philip Mary Chidubem Obi SDV was ordained Deacon.
The order of ordination of priests of the catholic church is such a sacramentous and solemn event which comprise among other observances, the calling out of the ordinates and their deep emotional acceptance of the call and declaration of their acceptance to proceed with the ordination, their been called to the order of priesthood when they prostrate on the floor as mark of humility and total submission to the authorities of the church as led by Jesus Christ, laying of hands on them by the presiding Bishop followed by all the ordained priests present at the ordination ground. There was a time when each of the candidates will be made to go and kneel before the Bishop, places his joined hands between those of the Bishop and makes a vow to respect and obey their Superiors and Successors. It would be recalled that it was during the process of the candidates for ordination prostrate themselves that litany of the saints is recited. There is the prayer of consecration, the investiture with stole and chasuble. This stage is usually followed by the kiss of peace. Their first assignment as priests is to bless the Bishop, the priests present and the entire congregation.
Speaking at the event of the ordination at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikorodu, Archbishop of Lagos Most Rev Dr Alfred Adewale Martins reminded the newly ordained priests that they were not the ones who chose themselves but that their ascension to the altar of God as priests were fashioned by God.
“One of the most important events in the Catholic Church is the ordination of priests; this involves self sacrifice, self denial. Know that it was God who chose you”, the Bishop admonished them.
The Bishop warned against what he described as adaptation of new methods of worship and renovations of the part of sacrament as handed over to them by the wisdom of the church. The church and the priests he insisted have roles to play in nation building. The present day youths he said must be protected as they are constantly searching for meaning and not just for employment and riches.
Bishop Adewale Martins who used the occasion of the ordination as another pastoral visit to St Patrick’s Church thanked the parish priest Rev Fr John Ukwa SDV, his Assistant Rev Fr Baylon Toochukwu Uwalaka SDV and the entire parishioners for contributing towards the development and upliftment of the parish both physically and spiritually.
